29 March 2005

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the University of South Africa are co-hosting a post-conflict reconstruction training programme for a visiting Sudanese delegation.

The programme, which brings in representatives from various South African government departments, started in Pretoria on Tuesday and is expected to conclude on Sunday.

The Sudanese delegation includes representatives of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the National Liberation Council, as well as Sudan's presidency, military and a range of government departments.

The programme is part of a joint project between the Department of Foreign Affairs, Unisa and the SPLM that was launched in February. The project seeks to assist with the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for South Sudan, as well as the reconstruction of the region.

South Africa is leading efforts to ensure the post-conflict reconstruction of Sudan under the auspices of the African Union (AU).

At the signing of the cease-fire agreement in Kenya in December, President Thabo Mbeki said the people of Sudan expected the SPLM and the government of Sudan to build schools, clinics and roads, and to work for real dialogue among the Sudanese.

The workshop aims to equip the SPLM leadership with the skills that will enable them to undertake these tasks.

Last week, Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma visited Sudan along with an AU ministerial committee which included the foreign ministers of Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal.

Before departing, Dlamini-Zuma said: "Post-conflict reconstruction is not just physical reconstruction - there are elements of psychological, political and social reconstruction. It is therefore important to understand what we are talking about."

Source: BuaNews

	Department of Foreign Affairs  University of South Africa  African Union